Box Score
|
Junior Blair Brady was a stand-out for the Jumbos against Amherst
|
SOMERVILLE - Visiting Amherst College improved their undefeated record to 6-0-1 (3-0-1 in the NESCAC) by defeating Tufts women's soccer 2-0 Saturday on a cold and cloudy Homecoming Day for the Jumbos.
Amherst defender Maya Jackson-Gibson (Amherst, NY) played strong, encompassing defense the entire game, while Blair Brady (San Antonio, TX) was equally impressive on defense in the first half for the Jumbos before being moved up to the midfield in the second.
Tufts keeper Kristin Wright (Austin, TX) was excellent in goal for the Jumbos, making her first of a few big saves about 13 minutes into the game. The junior goalie finished with five saves.
Midfielder Nikki Blank (Short Hills, NJ) had the first big chance of the game for Tufts when she took a nice lead pass from Allie Weiller (Katonah, NY) and ripped the ball off the post. From there, Tufts struggled to get up the field in the transition game for the remainder of the first half.
The attack from Amherst boiled over on a miscue between Wright and defender Catherine Greer (Rye, NY) that led to an own-goal and a 1-0 Amherst lead. During a scramble in the Tufts penalty box, Wright came out to fall on the ball just as Greer got her foot on it. It appeared that the sophomore defender was attempting to clear the ball over her own goal and take the corner kick, but it bounced up and over Wright and into the Tufts cage.
The Lord Jeffs did not yield their attack in the second half as forward Mel Stier (Deerfield, MA) blasted a chance off the crossbar less than five minutes into the frame.
The Jumbo offense had sporadic chances like it had in the first half, while Amherst added to its lead at the 30:18 mark of the second half. Megan Kim (Newport Beach, CA) tapped in a pinball-like feed to the doorstep to put the Lord Jeffs up 2-0. Hannah Cooper (Bethesda, MD) and Amanda Brisco (Houston, TX) were credited with the assists.
Amherst would have added to its lead at the 14:40 mark had it not been for two stellar saves from Wright. She dropped down on a point-blank shot to save it, then bounced up and dove at the solid rebound chance from Brisco to knock it aside, all in a matter of seconds.
The Lord Jeffs rode out the final minutes to their third NESCAC victory. The Jumbos fall to 1-5-1 and 0-5-0 in the conference.
Tufts continues a busy conference weekend by hosting Bates College tomorrow at noon. Amherst hosts rival Williams College in conference play next Saturday at noon.
Match statistics
#
